George Schultz, the secretary of state during the Reagan years, once said when the CIA denies something, it's denied. And who can doubt it? In the same spirit, it could be said when the government of mainland China says something, it's said.
The government in Beijing has an inferiority complex. That's not its worst feature. But it might be its most petty one. The government, and The Party, must save face. For proof, see its state media.
The rest of the world let it be known that the ChiComs haven't handled the coronavirus well, not from the very beginning. For word has it that Beijing silenced whistle-blowers and kept information under wraps during the early outbreak in Wuhan.
Weeks later, schools in central Arkansas are shut down and basketball has been canceled. The Reds have some explaining to do. Including to their own people, who are openly criticizing the government.
But rather than own up, the Chinese have gone on the offensive. It's an old tactic: When in doubt, attack.
According to Business Insider, a top Chinese spokesman has said the United States Army might have "brought the epidemic to Wuhan"--a conspiracy worthy of tinfoil hats.
"When did patient zero begin in U.S.?" Zhao Lijian, with China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, wrote on Twitter. "How many people are infected? What are the names of the hospitals? It might be U.S. Army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Be transparent! Make public your data! U.S. owe us an explanation!"
Something might have been lost in the translation. But the wacky comes through loud and clear.
Note to ChiComs: Nobody keeps a secret in the United States government. The president of the United States can't order fast food without The Washington Post reporting it. Seriously. Read it here: https://wapo.st/2ILccBu
For the United States Army to make plans to release a bug in China, about two dozen full-bird colonels in the Pentagon would know about it. And so would the world the next day. Thanks to American freedom, the training of military officers to disobey illegal orders, and a free, not to mention robust, press.
Speaking of the free press, the media in China aren't. The government controls what the media say. In fact, that Twitter storm by aforementioned Zhao Lijian wasn't even available on mainland China, because Twitter is forbidden there.
The Party, and apparatchiks in its press, have begun to spin Red China's response to the virus as successful, even a testament to the strength, brains and winning personality of the country's leader Xi Jinping. State-run news agency Xinhua recently ran a story quoting experts from Russia, Cuba and Belarus (!) praising China's leadership in dealing with the virus' spread.
According to The New York Times, Xinhua conducted a poll of sorts, asking which part of China's response against COVID-19 was most impressive. You could choose from choices such as "the spirit of self-sacrifice" and "solidarity among Chinese."
Strongman Mr. Xi did make a public statement. By teleconference. (You can't be too careful these days.) He promised a meeting of party cadres that the number of infected people in China had declined. And that "once again demonstrated the notable advantages of the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics."
So far, the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics has resulted in thousands of deaths in a worldwide pandemic. With more cases reported, by countries with true free presses, every day.
Editorial on 03/16/2020